U.S. patent application number 12/566993 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-01 for feminine hygiene article with visual indicator.
Invention is credited to Andrea Branca, Sandro Breda, Ivano Gagliardi, Paolo Veglio.
Application Number | 20100082008 12/566993 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40148761 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100082008 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gagliardi; Ivano ; et
al. |
April 1, 2010 |
FEMININE HYGIENE ARTICLE WITH VISUAL INDICATOR
Abstract
A feminine hygiene article (10) having a longitudinal axis (L),
a transverse axis (T) and a periphery. The article comprises a
backsheet (16) and a topsheet (12). The backsheet (16) has a
body-facing side and a garment-facing side, wherein the
garment-facing side comprises an adhesive area (24) and a
non-adhesive area (22) adjacent to the periphery of the article.
The article further comprises a release cover (18) releasably
attached to the adhesive area (24). The article comprises a visual
indicator (20), wherein said visual indicator is disposed to
indicate to the user the position of the non-adhesive area (22).
The visual indicator is not disposed on the release cover (18).
Inventors: |
Gagliardi; Ivano; (Pescara,
IT) ; Veglio; Paolo; (Pescara, IT) ; Branca;
Andrea; (Pescara, IT) ; Breda; Sandro;
(Pescara, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY;Global Legal Department - IP
Sycamore Building - 4th Floor, 299 East Sixth Street
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
US
|
Family ID: |
40148761 |
Appl. No.: |
12/566993 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/387 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 13/551 20130101;
A61F 13/84 20130101; A61F 13/5611 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
604/387 |
International
Class: |
A61F 13/60 20060101
A61F013/60 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 26, 2008 |
EP |
EP08165270.3 |
Claims
1. A feminine hygiene article having a longitudinal axis, a
transverse axis and a periphery, said article comprising a
backsheet and a topsheet, wherein said backsheet has a body-facing
side and a garment-facing side, wherein the garment-facing side of
the backsheet comprises an adhesive area and a non-adhesive area,
said non-adhesive area being placed adjacent to the periphery of
the article, said article further comprising a release cover
releasably attached to the adhesive area of the garment-facing side
of the backsheet, wherein said article comprises a visual
indicator, wherein said visual indicator is disposed to indicate to
the user the position of said non-adhesive area, and wherein said
visual indicator is disposed on a portion of the article other than
the release cover.
2. An article according to claim 1 wherein said visual indicator is
a printed area.
3. An article according to claim 2 wherein said printed area
corresponds at least partially to said non-adhesive area.
4. An article according to claim 2 wherein the printed area is
printed on the body-facing side of the backsheet.
5. An article according to claim 2 wherein the printed area is
printed on the garment-facing side of the backsheet.
6. An article according to claim 2 wherein the printed area is
uniformly printed.
7. An article according to claim 1 wherein said non-adhesive area
is intersected by the longitudinal axis.
8. An article according to claim 1 wherein the release cover is a
release paper which does not extend beyond the periphery of the
article.
9. An article according to claim 1 wherein the release cover is a
wrapper sheet which extends beyond the periphery of the
article.
10. An article according to claim 1 further comprising an embossed
pattern.
11. A feminine hygiene article having a longitudinal axis, a
transverse axis and a periphery, said article comprising a
backsheet and a topsheet, wherein said backsheet has a body-facing
side and a garment-facing side, wherein the garment-facing side of
the backsheet comprises an adhesive area and a non-adhesive area,
said non-adhesive area being placed adjacent to the periphery of
the article, said article further comprising a release cover
releasably attached to the adhesive area of the garment-facing side
of the backsheet, wherein said article comprises a printed area
corresponding at least partially to the non-adhesive area, and
wherein said printed area is printed on the body-facing side of the
backsheet or the garment-facing side of the backsheet, and said
printed area is visible on the body-facing side of the article.
12. An article according to claim 11 wherein said printed area
corresponds to an area entirely encompassed by the non-adhesive
area.
13. An article according to claim 11 wherein the printed area is
printed on the body-facing side of the backsheet.
14. An article according to claim 11 wherein the printed area is
uniformly printed.
15. An article according to claim 11 wherein said non-adhesive area
is intersected by the longitudinal axis.
16. An article according to claim 11 wherein the release cover is a
release paper which does not extend beyond the periphery of the
article.
17. An article according to claim 11 wherein the release cover is a
wrapper sheet which extends beyond the periphery of the
article.
18. An article according to claim 11 further comprising an embossed
pattern.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to feminine hygiene articles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The feminine hygiene articles of the invention are of the
type which is placed by the user in her undergarment and comprise
articles commonly referred to as sanitary towels (or sanitary
pads), light adult incontinence absorbent articles and pantiliners.
Whereas sanitary towels are generally used to collect relatively
large flows of liquid (menses), pantiliners are relatively thin
feminine hygiene articles designed to protect the user's underwear
and clothing from soiling by light vaginal discharges. For example,
many women have developed the habit of wearing a pantyliner between
their menstrual periods to protect their clothing from bodily
fluids such as vaginal discharges and slight urinary leak.
[0003] In general, feminine hygiene articles comprise an
impermeable backsheet forming the garment-facing side of the
article, a topsheet forming the opposite, body-facing side of the
article and an absorbent structure, normally referred to as an
absorbent core, placed in-between. The body-facing side of the
article is the first exposed to the flow of the bodily fluid, which
is then absorbed and directed to the absorbent structure. The fluid
impermeable layer prevents the fluid from leaking from the
absorbent structure to the garment through the garment-facing side
of the article.
[0004] WO2005/115296 discloses absorbent articles having indicator
markers disposed to indicate proper alignment of the absorbent
article with respect to undergarment-specific features such as the
curved leg opening.
[0005] Feminine hygiene articles usually comprise on their
garment-facing side an adhesive area which is designed to stick to
the undergarment, so that the article remains in position during
wear. The adhesive area may cover entirely the garment-facing side
of the article, or the garment-facing side may also comprise a
non-adhesive area. Before use, the adhesive area is normally
protected by a release cover. The release cover may be a release
paper which does not extend beyond the periphery of the article, or
may be a wrapper sheet which extends beyond the periphery of the
article.
[0006] It has been proposed to facilitate the removal of the
release cover by placing a so-called "finger lift" on one end of
the article. For example, a relatively small area of the
garment-facing side of the backsheet that is easily accessible by
the user (normally at the periphery of the article, and in
particular at its longitudinal end) may be non-adhesive. The user
can easily grasp this non-adhesive area since it is not attached to
the release cover, and use it to initiate the removal of the
release cover from the article by pulling release cover and article
apart. It has also been proposed to provide release liners with a
notch corresponding to a non-adhesive area, see for example
WO03/072004 "Absorbent article including undergarment fastener
adhesive having improved adhesive pattern".
[0007] Some pantiliner products have been proposed with a release
paper comprising a printed signal indicating the position of the
finger lift. This signal was found useful for indicating to the
user the position of the finger lift before separating the release
cover. However the present inventors have come to the insight that
once the absorbent product is placed in the user's undergarment, it
is practically impossible for the user to recognize visually where
the finger lift is positioned. If the user wishes to use the finger
lift as removal aid for the soiled article, she may thus have to
check different areas of the soiled article until finding the
position of the finger lift. The present inventors have come to the
insight that this yet unrecognized problem could be solved by the
invention as described hereinbelow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention relates to a feminine hygiene article
having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis and a periphery. The
article comprises a backsheet and a topsheet. The backsheet has a
body-facing side and a garment-facing side, wherein the
garment-facing side of the backsheet comprises an adhesive area and
a non adhesive area. The article may comprise an absorbent core.
The article further comprises a release cover releasably attached
to the adhesive area of the garment-facing side of the backsheet.
The article further comprises a visual indicator which is disposed
to indicate to the user the position of said non-adhesive area. The
visual indicator is not disposed on the release cover. In other
words, the visual indicator is disposed on a portion of the article
other than the release cover.
[0009] The visual indicator may be a printed area corresponding at
least partially to said non-adhesive area. The printed area may for
example be printed on the body-facing side of the backsheet or on
the garment-facing side of the backsheet. The printed area may be
uniformly printed or not.
[0010] The visual indicator may also be printed on any layers of
the article, other than the release cover. The visual indicator may
also be disposed partially or in whole in an area outside of the
non-adhesive area, as long as it provides a visual indication to
the user of the position of the non-adhesive area.
[0011] Because the visual indicator is not disposed on the release
cover, it will remain on the article when the article is placed on
the user's undergarment and can therefore facilitate the removal of
the soiled article from the undergarment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] While the specification concludes with claims which
particularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it is
believed the present invention will be better understood from the
following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals
identify identical elements and in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pantiliner of
FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the pantiliner of
FIG. 1 from another angle;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pantiliner of FIG. 1
with the release cover in the process from being separated from the
backsheet;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the pantiliner of FIG. 1 placed in
an undergarment;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of the
invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment of the
invention;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a plan view of another embodiment of the
invention;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a plan view of another embodiment of the
invention;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention
where the release cover is a wrapper sheet and is opened;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 with the
wrapper sheet partially opened.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Definitions
[0024] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the term "comprising" is
to be construed as open ended, meaning that other features, steps
or ingredients can be added as long as they are suitable to be used
in a feminine hygiene article. The expressions " . . . comprising a
. . . " and " . . . comprises a . . . " are thus to be construed as
" . . . comprising one or more . . . " or " . . . comprises one or
more . . . " respectively.
[0025] The term "feminine hygiene articles" refers to the type of
absorbent hygiene articles externally worn by women, usually for
menstrual and/or light incontinence control. These articles are
commonly referred to as pads, pantiliners, liners, sanitary napkins
or sanitary towels. These articles have usually a generally flat
surface and are typically held in place adjacent the user's crotch
(i.e. the pubic region) by the user's undergarment on which they
are affixed via adhesive or other joining means.
[0026] The term "body-facing side" refers to the side of the
absorbent article or a layer thereof facing the body of the user
when in use. The "garment-facing side" is the opposite side of the
article or layer.
[0027] The term "longitudinal axis" refers to the imaginary line
centered between the longitudinal side edges of the article and
which is generally aligned with the vertical plane which bisects a
standing wearer into left and right body halves. The longitudinal
axis is represented by the line L on the drawings. The longitudinal
axis conceptually divides the article in two halves. By
conceptually we mean that the longitudinal axis is normally not
physically present or visible in the article.
[0028] The term "transversal axis" refers to the imaginary line
which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the plane of the
body-facing side of the article and intersects it in the middle of
the length of the article as measured on the longitudinal axis. The
transversal axis conceptually divides the article in two halves. By
conceptually we mean that the transversal axis is normally not
physically present or visible in the article.
[0029] The term "periphery" refers to the boundary of the article
in the horizontal plane.
Absorbent Article 10
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 1, a feminine hygiene article 10
according to the invention is depicted in a perspective view. The
same article is represented in an exploded view on FIGS. 2 and 3.
The article shown comprises, from top to bottom, the following
layers: a topsheet 12, an absorbent core 14, and a backsheet 16. A
release cover 18 is releasably attached to the adhesive area 24 of
the garment-facing side of the backsheet layer.
[0031] The release cover 18 may be discarded by the user when the
absorbent article is placed in the undergarment. The release cover
is also discarded for the purpose of measuring the thickness of the
article.
[0032] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the visual indicator 20 is a
printed area 20 of the backsheet 16 corresponding partially to the
non-adhesive area 22 of the garment-facing side of the article. The
adhesive area 24, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, covers the majority
of the surface of the garment-facing side of the backsheet, but
other configurations are possible.
[0033] As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the visual indicator
20 may be printed on the backsheet 16 and still be visible by
transparency on the body-facing side of the article through the
topsheet 12. The visual indicator may provide two advantages.
First, it highlights the position of the finger lift area, which is
the area 22 of the garment-facing side of the backsheet which is
non-adhesive and which can be used to easily separate the release
cover 18 from the article. Second, when the article is placed in
the undergarment, the visual indicator 20 indicates to the user the
position of the non-adhesive area 18 and allows the user to grasp
this end of the article which is not attached to the undergarment,
thus facilitating the removal of the soiled article. The different
components of the article of the invention briefly described above
will now be discussed in more details.
Topsheet 12
[0034] The topsheet 12 is the layer of the article which is
oriented towards and contacts the body of the wearer, and is
therefore the first layer to receive the bodily discharges. The
topsheet is normally made of a single layer, as represented in the
Figures, but may also comprises more than one layer (for example a
central topsheet layer and two overlapping lateral stripes, as
disclosed in WO93/09744 or EP766,953).
[0035] The topsheet 12 is normally liquid pervious. The term
"liquid pervious" as used herein refers to components that allow
liquids to pass therethrough without significantly retarding or
obstructing the transmission of such liquids therethrough.
[0036] It is envisaged that any conventional topsheet materials may
be used within the invention. Advantageously, the topsheet may not
be opaque so that a visual indicator may be disposed on a layer
underlying the topsheet and still be visible by a user looking upon
the body-facing side of the topsheet 12. Suitable topsheets may be
made for example from nonwoven materials or perforated polyolefinic
films. An exemplary topsheet suitable for use herein is a
relatively hydrophobic 20 gsm spunbonded nonwoven web comprising
bicomponent fibers of the sheath core type (PP/PE), exemplarily
available from Pegas a.s., Czech Republic, under the tradename
101800000200-WW/ZZ.
[0037] If desired, the topsheet 12 may be treated with a surfactant
to enhance liquid penetration to the core. The surfactant is
typically non-ionic and should be nonirritating to the skin. A
surfactant density of about 0.01 milligrams per square centimeter
of topsheet area is normally suitable. An exemplary surfactant is
sold by the Glyco Chemical, Inc. of Greenwich, Conn. as Pegosperse
200 ML. The topsheet may have a plurality of apertures to permit
liquids deposited thereon to pass through to the core more
quickly.
[0038] The topsheet 12 and the backsheet 16 are preferentially
peripherally joined using known techniques such as heat embossing.
The layers may also be glued to each other. The topsheet 12 may be
contiguous with the backsheet 16 with these two layers forming the
periphery of the article.
Absorbent Core 14
[0039] The articles of the invention may comprise an absorbent core
14 placed between the topsheet 12 and the backsheet 16. As used
herein, the term "absorbent core" refers to a material or
combination of materials suitable for absorbing, distributing, and
storing fluids such as urine, blood, menses, and/or other body
exudates.
[0040] The size and shape of the absorbent core 14 may be such that
the surface of the core in the horizontal plane is substantially
smaller than the surface of the topsheet. By "substantially
smaller", we mean that the surface of the core 14 is at least about
10% smaller than the surface of the topsheet 12, or at least about
25% smaller than the surface of the topsheet 12. The absorbent core
14 may be generally centered in the middle of the article. The
absorbent core 14 may be disposed away from the periphery of the
article to provide improved flexibility along the edges of the
article.
[0041] By providing an absorbent core having a substantially
smaller surface than the topsheet, several benefits may be
achieved. The amount of core material used is reduced, lowering the
overall costs of manufacturing the product. A core having a smaller
surface also increases the overall flexibility of the product,
because the regions of the product not provided with a core are
generally less rigid than the region where the core is situated.
The visual indicator may be advantageously disposed in an area
which is not directly situated under the core, because the core may
be opaque or of a limited transparency. On the other hand, if the
article comprises a core which has substantially the same surface
as the article, as is usually the case for sanitary napkins, it may
be advantageous to place the visual indicator above the core so
that it is clearly visible on the topsheet of the article.
[0042] The absorbent core 14 may have an oval shape as represented
in the figures but may also have any other shape. For example it is
typical for absorbent cores to be rectangularly shaped for ease of
manufacturing. However flexibility may be better with cores having
a curved shape and not comprising right angles.
[0043] The absorbent core 14 can be made of any suitable materials.
Non-limiting examples of suitable liquid-absorbent materials
include comminuted wood pulp which is generally referred to as
airfelt; creped cellulose wadding; absorbent gelling materials
including superabsorbent polymers such as hydrogel-forming
polymeric gelling agents; chemically stiffened, modified, or
cross-linked cellulose fibers; meltblown polymers including
co-form; synthetic fibers including crimped polyester fibers;
tissue including tissue wraps and tissue laminates; capillary
channel fibers; absorbent foams; absorbent sponges; synthetic
staple fibers; peat moss; or any equivalent material; or
combinations thereof. The absorbent core comprise superabsorbent
polymer (SAP), normally distributed within a matrix of cellulosic
fibers, for example in order to reduce the thickness of the
absorbent core.
[0044] The absorbent core may be unitary, or may be a laminate of
two or more layers. For example, the core may comprise a fluid
impermeable barrier layer (e.g. a PE Patch) on its backsheet-facing
side to prevent fluids retained by the absorbent core from striking
through the pantiliner and soiling adjacent garments. An exemplary
PE patch is a 25 gsm poly film available from Britton Taco (UK)
under trade name ST-012A-White.
[0045] Further generic information regarding absorbent cores can be
found in prior patent publications, see for example WO0207662A1 and
WO9119471.
Backsheet 16
[0046] The general function of the backsheet is to prevent
discharges absorbed by the core from escaping the feminine hygiene
article and soiling the clothing of the wearer. The backsheet 16
may be made of any suitable material in particular any standard
backsheet materials. These materials are generally flexible, liquid
resistant, and liquid impervious.
[0047] Any conventional backsheet materials may be used within the
invention, such as polyolefinic films or nonwoven webs. Nonwoven
webs may be advantageous because they normally provide better
breathability for the articles and may be cheaper than polyolefinic
films. For example, a relatively hydrophobic 18 grams per square
meter (gsm) spunbonded nonwoven web of 2 denier polypropylene
fibers, exemplarily available from Pegas a.s. Czech Republic under
the trade name 121801000100 may be used. The backsheet may also be
a laminate as is know in the art.
[0048] The backsheet 16 has a garment-facing side and an opposite
body-facing side. The garment-facing side of the backsheet
comprises a non-adhesive area 22 and an adhesive area 24. The
adhesive area 24 may be provided by any conventional means.
Pressure sensitive adhesives have been commonly found to work well
for this purpose.
[0049] Full adhesive coverage of the backsheet may be applied
except for a relatively small non-adhesive area 22 serving as
finger lift, as exemplarily shown on FIG. 3. It is known that
providing a full adhesive coverage of the garment-facing side of
the backsheet except for a non adhesive area 22 may be advantageous
to provide a better adherence of the article to the undergarment.
It was found however by the inventor that the user may have problem
finding the non-adhesive area as when is relatively small, so that
the visual indicator of invention is particularly useful in the
context of a "full" adhesive coverage where the non-adhesive area
is relatively small and/or when the article comprises only one (a
single) non-adhesive zone, for example when the total non-adhesive
area represents from about 0.5% to about 15% of the total surface
of the backsheet, or even less about 10% of the total surface of
the backsheet.
[0050] The shape of the adhesive area may also be different, for
example it is also common to use one or two or more strips of
longitudinally oriented adhesive strips instead of full coverage.
The adhesive strips may then be continuous or intermittent. For
example two longitudinally oriented strips, one on each side of the
longitudinal axis, may be applied. The adhesive may be applied via
direct slot coating application process. Mechanical adhesive means
may be also provided, such as microscopic hooks placed on the
backsheet and designed to attach to the fibers present in some
undergarments, as in a hook-and-loop fastener. If the article
comprises wings, these will normally also comprise on their
garment-facing side an adhesive area.
[0051] The garment-facing side of the backsheet 16 comprises a
non-adhesive area 22 which is placed adjacent to the periphery of
the article. This non-adhesive area 22 may intersect the
longitudinal axis L of the article. The non-adhesive area 22 may be
used as a so called "finger lift", to ease the removal of the
releasable cover from the release cover 18 before use or from the
undergarment post-use. The article may also comprise several
discrete non-adhesive areas, each placed adjacent to the periphery
of the article, which may each have a visual indicator, as shown on
FIG. 6.
Visual Indicator 20
[0052] The feminine hygiene article of the invention comprises a
visual indicator 20 disposed to indicate to the user the position
of the non-adhesive area. As used herein, the term "visual
indicator" designates a feature providing a visual contrast with
the rest of the article. The visual indicator can be recognized by
the user of the article as providing an indication of the position
of the non-adhesive area. For example, the visual indicator may be
a printed area which may correspond partially or entirely to the
non-adhesive area 22 of the garment-facing side of the backsheet.
By "correspond" we mean placed on the area itself or on an area of
any other layer of the article directly overlapping the area. It
may also be envisaged to place the visual indicator in an area
outside the non-adhesive area, as is shown on FIG. 8.
[0053] The visual indicator is not disposed on the release cover,
or in other words is disposed on a component which is not the
release cover, so that it remains on the article even after the
article is placed on the user's undergarment 30, as exemplarily
shown on FIG. 5. This may facilitate the removal of the soiled
article by the user.
[0054] The visual indicator 20 may be a printed area or may be
provided by other means of providing a visual contrast, for example
a piece of colored or pigmented material may be used to provide a
distinctive colour, or a specific embossment, fold or pleat pattern
may be provided to also provide a visual contrast. Heat crimping
may also form a distinctive pattern. However, a printed area may be
advantageous because it may be less costly and complex to produce
than other means.
[0055] The visual indicator 20 is advantageously visible on the
body-facing side of the article. By "visible on the body-facing
side of the article", we mean that a subject having a good vision
in both eyes (10/10) can recognize the presence of the visual
indicator 20 when the article is placed on a white background at a
distance of 50 cm in a brightly lit room with incandescent light
(the article being placed flat as during in use condition). The
visual indicator may be disposed on the topsheet or on an
underlying layer such as the backsheet, in which case the visual
indicator should advantageously be visible by transparency on the
body-facing side of the article. The visual indicator is
advantageously visible on the body-facing side of the article with
and without the release cover. In this way, the release cover can
be more easily detached because the position of the non-adhesive
area is indicated to the user at the point of use, as well as at
the point where the user seeks to detach the used product from the
undergarment.
[0056] Conventional topsheet and backsheet layers are normally
substantially transparent or translucent so that a printed pattern
will normally be visible on the body-facing side of the article by
transparency even if the visual indicator is not directly placed on
the topsheet. Core materials are usually less transparent, so that
it may be advantageous that the visual indicator be disposed at
least partially outside the area corresponding to the core, or
alternatively on the body-facing side of the core or a layer
situated above the core. For articles with so called "full surface
core design" where the absorbent core shape corresponds
substantially to the product shape, the presence of the visual
indicator may also help preventing the accidental product
delamination by the user both at the release paper removal step and
at the panty removal step after use. This advantage is particularly
effective in presence of ticker/bulkier core where the inter-core
delamination sometimes occur when the user mistakenly confuses the
edge of the core with the edge of the article.
[0057] The visual indicator 20 may be disposed on a relatively
small surface compared to the overall surface of the article. This
is because the non-adhesive area 22 corresponding to a finger lift
is normally also relatively small. The surface of the visual
indicator may for example represent from about 0.5% to about 15% of
the total surface of the article. Advantageously, the visual
indicator may have a surface coverage of between about 1% and about
10%, or between about 2% to about 7.5% of the overall surface of
the article. As indicated above, the visual indicator may be in the
form of a uniformly printed area or may be provided by other
means.
[0058] In practice, it may be difficult to apply the visual
indicator so that is corresponds exactly with the non-adhesive area
22 due to manufacturing constraint of high-speed production. The
visual indicator may be disposed to cover a smaller surface area
than the non-adhesive area, as shown on FIGS. 2 and 3, or a larger
surface area if wished. In the embodiment represented on FIG. 1,
the width of the printed area 20 in the longitudinal direction is
about 7 mm and the width of the non-adhesive area in the same
direction is about 9 mm measured from the longitudinal end of the
article. On the other hand, as indicated above, it may also be
envisaged that the visual indicator be provided by leaving an area
corresponding to the non-adhesive area white, while printing the
rest of the layer uniformly or with a relatively dense pattern, the
visual indicator being thus formed by contrast, although in
practice this may be relatively more costly than printing the
visual indicator.
[0059] More than one visual indicator may be provided, for example
where several discrete non-adhesive zones are provided as finger
lift zones, as exemplary shown on FIG. 6 where the printed area 20
corresponds approximately to the non-adhesive zones.
[0060] The visual indicator may also be non-uniformly applied, as
shown on FIG. 7 for example, where a series of stripes is placed
instead of a uniform zone. The visual indicator may also be placed
on an area outside the non-adhesive zone, as long as it still
clearly indicates the position of the non-adhesive zone to the
user, for example via a sign such as one or more arrows, as
represented on FIG. 8.
[0061] If the visual indicator 20 is provided by a printed area, it
may be printed by any conventional printing method, such as flexo
print or roto gravure printing. The intensity of the ink should be
sufficiently strong so that the visual indicator is visible on the
body-facing side of the article, in particular through at least a
portion of the topsheet 20 if the printed area is printed on
underlying layer such as the backsheet. A black ink may be used,
but it may be preferred to use a coloured ink such as pink, violet,
green, purple, blue or yellow, or even a combination of different
coloured inks. If the visual indicator is provided by a uniformly
printed zone (as exemplarily represented on FIG. 1), it may be
advantageous to have a minimum color difference between the printed
zone and the rest of the article as measured with the .DELTA.E*
parameter. The significance and practical consideration on how to
measure the .DELTA.E* value can be found for example in U.S. Pat.
No. 7,241,280B2, col. 4 line 58 to col. 9 line 12. The color
difference between the printed area and the rest of the article as
measured in the center of article, i.e. the intersection of the
longitudinal and transversal axis, may advantageously be at least
3.5 (.DELTA.E*.gtoreq.3.5). In some cases, the printed area may be
too small for the size of the spectrophotometer probe indicated in
U.S. Pat. No. 7,241,280B2, in that case a smaller probe may be used
or a larger sample zone constructed from cut-out sections of
several articles.
[0062] As indicated above, the visual indicator may advantageously
be printed on a layer of the article, for example the backsheet.
The layer which is printed may be printed "off-line" or "on-line".
By "off-line", we mean that the material used for the layer will
not be printed on the manufacturing line where the different layers
are assembled, but at a different location and in a separate step,
for example at the supplier's factory. On the other hand, the area
may also be printed "in-line", which means that a printing device
is placed on the converting line and will be printing the material
as it is unrolled and usually before it is assembled with the other
layers. Both off-line and on-line printing are known in the
art.
Release Cover 18
[0063] The article comprises a release cover 18 releasably attached
to the adhesive area 24 of the garment-facing side of the
backsheet. The release cover is removed by the user before placing
the article in the undergarment. Different types of release covers
exist, in particular so-called release paper, one-piece wrapper
sheet and two-piece wrapper sheet. Any conventional release covers
may be used with the present invention.
[0064] Release papers are normally used for articles that are
provided flat (not folded) to the user and may be of about the same
size (or smaller) as the article, as shown on FIGS. 1 to 9. The
release papers may be made of a paper material, one side of which
has been treated with silicone and this siliconized layer may be
releasably attached to the adhesive area. Sometimes a non-woven
material is used in place of a paper material, but the principle
and use remains the same. The term release paper has used herein
will therefore refer to all release covers which are not a wrapper
sheet (see below), in particular release covers used for articles
sold in a non-folded configuration and/or which do not extend
beyond the periphery of the article. The release paper may also
comprise a small cut-out section in an area corresponding to the
non-adhesive area, in order to further help the removal of the
release paper from the backsheet.
[0065] The term "wrapper sheet" refers to the type of release
covers which extend beyond the periphery of the article and are
used to wrap the article before use, as shown on FIGS. 10-11. A
one-piece wrapper sheet can be used, which as the name indicates,
refers to a single piece of material, usually a plastic material
siliconized on one side. A two-piece wrapper sheet may also be
used, in which a release paper is permanently glued to a larger
wrapper sheet, the article being releasably attached to release
paper. The articles is usually folded and enclosed by the wrapper
sheet (one-piece or two-piece) which can be sealed on its
sides.
[0066] These various types of release covers are known in the art.
Suitable examples include BL 30 MG-A SILOX EI/O, BL 30 MG-A SILOX 4
P/O available from Akrosil Corporation, and M&W films available
from Gronau in Germany.
Printing Pattern 26
[0067] If the visual indicator is obtained by a printing step, a
decorative pattern 26 may also be printed of the rest of the layer
to provide an attractive appearance to the article. As represented
on FIG. 9 for example, the article may also comprise a pattern 26
printed on the rest of the backsheet. The visual indicator
contrasts with the printed pattern 26 so it is clearly identifiable
even in the presence of a further decorative pattern.
[0068] This printed pattern 26 may comprise, as represented in FIG.
9, a series of dispersed discrete printed elements which may be
identical or differ within the printed pattern 26. Of course, other
discrete elements than those represented may be used, for example
floral decorative elements (flowers, leaves), stars, or any other
decorative elements. The printed pattern 26 may also consist of a
continuous element rather than discrete elements, as long as the
visual indicator remains recognizable.
Embossed Pattern 28
[0069] The articles of the invention may further present an
embossed pattern 28. Embossing may normally serve several
functions, such as providing a bonding between overlying layers
and/or providing a quicker fluid pathways through the topsheet
towards the core. Ideally, the embossing may also be aesthetically
pleasing. The embossed pattern can be achieved with standard
techniques such as thermal bond, ultrasonic bond or pressure. A
suitable process is thermal bonding wherein the layers are passed
through two steel rolls where one is engraved with the visual
pattern and the other is flat. Both rolls are warmed to temperature
suitable to melt the layer (typical range from 90 to 170.degree.
C.). The embossed pattern may be partially or entirely comprised
within the area corresponding to the core.
[0070] The embossing roll may be engraved using conventional
techniques such as machine tooling for most embossed patterns, but
it may be preferred to use acid etching or laser engraving to
provide a finer engraving, and thus a finer embossed pattern.
General
[0071] The thickness of the absorbent articles according to the
invention may be typical for the type of applications foreseen. For
pantiliners (as exemplarily represented in the Figures), the
thickness is generally thinner as for sanitary pads for examples.
The articles of the invention may have a relatively small thickness
(also called "caliper") of less than about 5 millimeters, as
measured using the standard test described below. The articles may
be even thinner, to provide very discrete articles. The lowest
limit for the thickness of the article will be dictated by
technical feasibility, but obtaining an effective article thinner
than 0.4 mm may be difficult. Suitable thickness ranges for the
articles of the invention include of from about 0.4 mm to about 4
mm, and from about 0.6 mm to about 3 mm. As used herein, the term
"thickness of the article" refers to the thickness value measured
in the center of the article, i.e. normally including the thickness
of the core 14.
[0072] The dimensions of the articles of the invention in the
horizontal plane are typical of the articles in the field. For
example the length of such products will normally lie in a range of
from about 8 cm to about 20 cm for the length of the article, and
of from about 3 to about 9 cm for its width. The overall surface of
the article (so typically the surface of the topsheet) may also lie
within the usual range found for these articles, which normally
would be of from about 40 cm.sup.2 to about 250 cm.sup.2. For the
purpose of providing exemplary dimensions of a pantiliner such as
the one represented in the Figures, such a pantiliner may have a
length of 15 cm, a width (at center) of 4.8 cm, an overall surface
of the article of 79 cm.sup.2 and a core area surface of 38
cm.sup.2. An exemplary thickness of the article represented is 0.9
mm.
[0073] The article may or may not comprise so-called "wings", which
are side-wrapping elements destined to be folded around the
undergarment. These wings are however normally used for sanitary
pads and are not normally present for thinner products such as
pantiliners.
[0074] The articles of the invention are normally disposable, i.e.
are not intended to be re-usable or washable but are normally
disposed of after use.
Method of Manufacture
[0075] The sanitary articles of the present invention may be
produced industrially by any conventional means. The different
layers may thus be assembled using standard means such as embossing
(e.g. thermal bonding) or gluing or a combination of both. The
converting line may comprise a printed step wherein the ink is
applied to the backsheet of the article. It is however also
possible to carry the printed step on the backsheet outside the
converting line of the article, before this layer is joined with
any of the other layers.
Thickness Measurement
[0076] The articles of the inventions may be relatively thin and
not bulky, so that the thickness measurements will be less
dependent of the pressure applied when making the measurement, than
for example for bulky articles such as thick pads. The following
specific method may be used to measure the thickness of the article
of the invention. The equipment may comprise an apparatus capable
of measuring thickness with a 0.01 mm tolerance. A commercial
supplier of such equipment is for example Ono Sokki
(www.onosokki.net), for example their Caliper Gauge GS-503 and
digital readout DG 2610 may be used. The caliper gauge is fitted
with a foot, which may have an exemplary 24.13 mm diameter. A
suitable pressure exerted when the measurement is made is 0.689
kPa.
[0077] The test procedure is as follows. Make sure the micrometer
is zeroed. Place the article without the release cover on the base
plate, the topsheet facing up. If the article was provided in a
compressed state (as is sometimes the case in certain packaging),
the article is let to rest about 10 nm before its thickness is
measured. Similarly, if the article was provided folded, the
article is first opened and let about 10 nm to rest in its "flat"
shape. Position the article on the base plate so that when the foot
is lowered, it is in the center of the article. Let the foot gently
lowers itself onto the article at a rate of 5 mm/sec+/-2 mm/sec.
Determine the article caliper by reading the micrometer dial 10
seconds after the foot comes to rest. The shaft and foot should
deliver approximately 32 grams of force for a pressure of
0.69+/-0.02 kPa to the sample with the above mentioned foot having
a diameter of 24.13 mm.
* * * * *